Week Five Thoughts.

Written Saturday September 27th at 9:05 AM

Here are my thoughts on each team after week five. 

Waterford Kettering: It was the first game for interim coach Cullen Conway and it didn't end up well which resulted in a 63-0 loss to Lakeland on Friday night. It has been a rough week for the Captains as Coach Brian Barnes was forced out at Waterford Kettering after becoming the new athletic director at Madison Heights Bishop Foley. The Captains will look to finish strong and hopefully fix the defense going forward.

Waterford Mott: The Corsairs bounced back after allowing 87 points in the last two weeks against Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and Walled Lake Western and shut down a Jeff Glynn offense that was scoring in bunches shutting them out 44-0 on Friday night. Waterford Mott controls it's destiny in the Lakes Valley Conference as they have South Lyon coming to Waterford for a big showdown looming for the league crown next week.

Pontiac: The Phoenix took another very tough loss falling 38-0 on Friday night. Pontiac struggled with Bloomfield Hills athleticism throughout the game. It is going to take some time to build for the Phoenix and Coach Wendell Jefferson to get things right but they are getting there.

Avondale: The Yellow Jackets are really struggling to adjust to Coach Jim Carsile's system bottom line falling 33-0 to Ferndale on Friday night. Avondale has struggled on both sides of the football and it's really shown. It will be very interesting to see what the Yellow Jackets do going forward

Berkley: The Bears kept the Battle of Woodward trophy with a 38-10 win over Royal Oak on Friday night. Coach Casey Humes has figured something out with his program and they have started to put things together at the right time but they have a big one in Jackson in the future.

Royal Oak: The Ravens are the ultimate Scooby Doo team and it showed in their 38-10 loss to Berkley on Friday night. I can't seem to figure what Royal Oak is doing, they look good one week then the next they don't look that good, it's the ultimate mystery when describing the Ravens right now.

Ferndale: The Eagles have put the Gold on notice with their 33-0 win over Avondale on Friday night. Ferndale has figured things out which is a good sign and have a tough schedule ahead for Coach Donovan Jackson. The Eagles are in a very good spot right now.

Troy: The Colts are in a rough spot after a 33-7 loss to Oak Park on Friday night. The defense which has been the story allowing 74 points in the last two games albeit was against Clarkston and Oak Park but that's not a good thing if the defense is allowing points in bunches going forward. This is something Coach Chris Frasier and Troy needs to fix.

Troy Athens: The Red Hawks defense has been a big problem which it showed in a 40-21 loss to North Farmington on Friday night. It's clear that Troy Athens has made progress offensively but the defense is where the Red Hawks need to clean up. It is likely that Coach Tom Cook has to make some changes on the defensive side of the football this offseason.

Bloomfield Hills: The Black Hawks had no issues on their homecoming with Pontiac winning 38-0 on Friday night earning their second win of the season. The rebuild will take some time for Coach Scott Merchant but it looks like they are making some progress going forward.

Farmington: The Falcons exploded for 21 points in the second half to stun Seaholm 42-19 on Friday night controlling the Blue at the moment. Farmington's athleticism showed along with the play of Vincent Peschi who also had a big game. The Falcons caused the Maples to abandoned the running game which is Seaholm's specialty. Farmington looks like a different team since falling 20-18 to Holly in week two.

North Farmington: The Raiders have seemed to turn things around in an impressive 40-21 win over Troy Athens. Elijah Cobb has been the answer at quarterback allowing Terrance James to be himself. The defense has played well despite allowing 21 points. North Farmington has turned things around since their loss to Farmington. They are in a good spot right now.

Seaholm: The Maples made some stunning turnovers and had to abandoned their vaunted veer attack in a stunning 42-19 loss to Farmington on Friday night. Seaholm had no answers defensively for the Falcons all night. The Maples don't control their destiny right now.

Oak Park: The Knights showed their athleticism in a 33-7 win over Troy on Friday night. Oak Park's skill players played well and really dominated against Troy. The Knights are quietly building something back up and gaining momentum.

Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors knew it was going to be a really tough game against Harper Woods and it showed in their 34-0 loss to Harper Woods on Friday night. Southfield Arts and Tech is struggling. The lower levels could bring some promise heading into the future but right now it's rough for the Warriors.

Groves: The Falcons held their own against West Bloomfield on Friday night but fell 20-7 to the Lakers on Friday night. Groves had their moments where they ended up taking a 7-0 lead at one point but West Bloomfield's defense really clamped down. The Falcons have been making progress and it's showing.

Stoney Creek: The Cougars are getting into postseason form with an impressive 34-0 win over Rochester on Friday night. Stoney Creek's defense has played well despite their tough loss to Harper Woods. So far Coach Rick Powell has done very well at Stoney Creek and with their program strength it is showing.

Rochester: The Falcons have not been the same team since upsetting Lake Orion 23-21 two weeks ago. Rochester has been outscored 76-7 in the last two weeks which included a 34-0 loss to Stoney Creek on Friday night. The Falcons used a lot of energy in their upset of the Dragons but they have not been able to figure it out which is not a good sign heading into October.

Harper Woods: The Pioneers showed their dominance against Southfield Arts and Tech winning 34-0 on Friday night. Harper Woods has been very consistent all season which has showed. It should be very interesting to see what the Pioneers do heading into October.

Adams: The Highlanders had a really tough outing for the second time in three weeks against a motivated Clarkston squad. Clarkston shut down Ryland Watters while playing time possession football themselves in a 21-7 defeat for Adams. Watters had a touchdown pass to Matt Toeppner in the second quarter which was their only offensive score on the night. The Highlanders will be fine going forward.

Clarkston: The Wolves defense was the story in a 21-7 win over Adams on Friday night. Clarkston had solid offensive outings from Lukas Boman and quarterback Alex Wasczenzko was solid all night. The Wolves are rolling with confidence likely heading into the postseason.

West Bloomfield: The Lakers defense was the story again for West Bloomfield in their 20-7 win over Groves on Friday night. Will Espy had a strong fourth quarter which helped big time. The Lakers are a completely different team from last season where injuries really derailed them despite getting into the postseason. West Bloomfield controls it's own destiny for now.

Oxford: The Wildcats system and belief in each other proved to be a difference in Oxford's 41-34 win over Lake Orion on Friday night. The Wildcats offense was the story and getting key third down plays which led to touchdowns. They were balanced all night. Coach Trevor Potts has done a great job in keeping program balance which is starting to show itself.

Lake Orion: There is no words to describe this. The defense was poor all night against an Oxford team that ran and threw all over them. The offense had their best game of the season which is a positive but the Dragons couldn't get over the hump falling 41-34 to the Wildcats on Friday night likely ending the postseason dreams. No one would had thought heading into the season that 0-9 was possible but it seems really real at the moment. It is clear the Dragons have a program problem when it comes to mental toughness program wide (includes youth levels.) There has to be changes this offseason everywhere from varsity to the youth levels that's the bottom line.